Ultrasonic surgical system having a fluid cooled blade and related cooling methods therefor

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a fluid cooled ultrasonic surgical instrument and related systems and methods of use therefor. In some embodiments, the disclosed ultrasonic surgical instrument is adapted for used within an insufflated cavity or pneumoperitoneum of a patient. The instrument includes a housing having an elongate shaft, a waveguide disposed at a distal end of the shaft, a coolant inlet port defined in an outer surface of the housing, and a coolant pump disposed within the housing and configured to move coolant from the coolant inlet port to the waveguide. During use, insufflation gas from within the pneumoperitoneum is drawn into the instrument shaft by the coolant pump, and blown over the waveguide to provide cooling. The delivery of ultrasonic energy and activation of the pump may be controlled by a processor in response to user input and waveguide temperature.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/642,958, filed Mar. 10, 2015, which is divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/236,768, filed Sep. 20, 2011. The entirecontents of each of the above applications are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to surgical instruments, and inparticular, to an ultrasonic dissector having fluid-cooled componentsand related methods of cooling components of an ultrasonic surgicalinstrument.

Background of Related Art

Energy-based tissue treatment is well known in the art. Various types ofenergy (e.g., electrical, ultrasonic, microwave, cryogenic, thermal,laser, etc.) are applied to tissue to achieve a desired result.Ultrasonic energy may be delivered to tissue using a surgical probe thatincludes a transducer coupled with an end effector, and configured todeliver ultrasonic energy to tissue.

The use of ultrasonic energy in surgical procedures is known to thoseskilled in the art to be a valuable resource for cutting and fragmentingtissue of a patient. Most of these apparatus incorporate a sinusoidaldriving signal which causes the mechanical tip of a waveguide to vibrateat a selected frequency, usually in the range of 20 KHz to 60 KHz.

The benefits associated with the use of ultrasonic energy powereddevices, and in particular, ultrasonic instruments for surgical use, areknown. For example, the use of an ultrasonic generator in conjunctionwith a surgical scalpel facilitates faster and easier cutting of organictissue while accelerating coagulation. Improved cutting may result fromincreased body tissue-to-scalpel contact caused by the high frequency ofvibration of the scalpel blade in relation to body tissue. Improvedcoagulation may result from heat generated by contact between the highfrequency vibrations of a scalpel blade and body tissue.

Ultrasonic instruments may include any of a variety of waveguidesconfigured to achieve a surgical result. An ultrasonic waveguide isdisposed at a distal end of the ultrasonic instrument. A waveguide mayinclude an end effector that includes a cutting blade, shears, a hook,and/or a ball, each adapted for specific medical procedures, and may becombined with other features such as jaws for grasping or manipulatingtissue. Such ultrasonic instruments are primarily used in a variety ofmedical procedures including open surgical procedures, luminalprocedures and endoscopic procedures. During use, waveguides onultrasonic dissection devices can reach temperatures greater than 200°C. If an overheated waveguide is touched to tissue, the tissue can bedamaged.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to an ultrasonic instrument having ashaft, a waveguide blade at a distal end of the shaft, and one or morecooling ducts disposed at a distal end of the shaft and configured todirect a cooling fluid to the waveguide. The cooling fluid may includeair, CO₂, and/or saline, which are commonly available in a surgicalenvironment and possess the thermal mass necessary to effectively cool awaveguide, blade, or other component of an ultrasonic instrument. Alsodisclosed is a coolant delivery unit adapted to deliver fluid to theinstrument that may include, without limitation, a fan, an impeller, apump, a syringe, or a bellows. The coolant delivery unit may be internalor external to the ultrasonic instrument. The coolant delivery unit maybe activated automatically, or under control of a surgeon. The coolantdelivery unit may also be operatively associated with a temperaturesensor and/or activated at one or more predefined temperatures. Thecooling fluid may also aid in cleaning the tip of the device and/or thesurgical field. In some embodiments, the cooling fluid may be stored foruse within a reservoir that is external to the instrument. In someembodiments, the instrument is configured to utilize fluid contained aninsufflated cavity within a patient, such as, without limitation, apneumoperitoneum.

The disclosed device and related methods may have advantages, includingwithout limitation, by enabling the ultrasonic blade(s) to cool morequickly, by preventing collateral damage to surrounding tissue, byallowing surgeons to work more quickly without waiting for the blade tocool, and by allowing the device to be used as a grasper or for othertissue manipulations due to the decreased temperature of the bladeand/or other tissue-contacting components.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, anultrasonic surgical instrument is presented that includes a housinghaving an elongated shaft, a waveguide disposed at a distal end of theshaft, a coolant inlet port defined in an outer surface of the housing,and a coolant pump disposed within the housing and configured to movecoolant from the coolant inlet port to the waveguide. The disclosedultrasonic instrument may include a coolant outlet conduit in fluidcommunication at a proximal end thereof with a coolant pump outlet. Adistal end of the coolant outlet conduit may be configured to directcoolant towards at least a portion of the waveguide. One or more sensorsmay optionally be operably coupled to the waveguide to sense a property,including without limitation, a temperature, a frequency, an impedance,a phase, an amplitude, a rate of fluid flow, and a quantity of fluid. Insome embodiments, the coolant inlet port may be radially aligned with acoolant pump inlet. The coolant pump may include an electric motor.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, anultrasonic surgical system is presented. The disclosed ultrasonicsurgical system includes an ultrasonic surgical instrument adapted tooperably couple to an ultrasonic generator. The instrument includes ahousing having an elongated shaft, a waveguide disposed at a distal endof the shaft, a coolant inlet port defined in an outer surface of thehousing, and a coolant pump disposed within the housing and configuredto move coolant from the coolant inlet port to the waveguide. The systemfurther includes an ultrasonic generator adapted to operably couple tothe ultrasonic instrument. The ultrasonic generator includes anultrasonic driver unit configured to provide ultrasonic energy to thewaveguide, and a coolant activation unit configured to provide a coolantactivation signal to the coolant pump.

The ultrasonic surgical instrument may include a sensor operably coupledto the waveguide, and the ultrasonic generator may include a sensorinterface unit configured to receive a sensor signal from the sensor.The sensor may be adapted to sense a property selected from the groupconsisting of a temperature, a frequency, an impedance, a phase, anamplitude, a rate of fluid flow, and a quantity of fluid.

The ultrasonic generator may include a processor in operablecommunication with at least one of the ultrasonic driver unit, thecoolant activation unit, or the sensor interface unit, and mayadditionally or alternatively include a memory unit in operablecommunication with the processor. The memory may include any suitableform of data storage device, including without limitation, read-onlymemory, flash memory, semiconductor memory, optical memory, and/ormagnetic memory. The memory unit may include a set of programmedinstructions executable on the processor to perform a method ofreceiving an activation signal, activating the ultrasonic driver unit,and activating the coolant activation unit. The memory may additionallyinclude programmed instructions executable on the processor to performthe steps of receiving a sensor signal corresponding to a temperature ofthe ultrasonic surgical instrument, and deactivating the ultrasonicdriver unit in response to a determination that the temperature of theultrasonic surgical instrument has exceeded a temperature threshold fora predetermined duration of time.

Also disclosed is a method of cooling an ultrasonic surgical instrument.The disclosed method includes the steps of insufflating a body cavity ofa patient with insufflation media, introducing an ultrasonic surgicalinstrument into the insufflated body cavity, activating delivery ofultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic surgical instrument, and moving theinsufflation media through the ultrasonic surgical instrument to coolthe ultrasonic surgical instrument. The insufflation media may beselected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, oxygen, air, andsaline. The insufflation media may be moved through the ultrasonicsurgical instrument at a rate in accordance with a temperature of theultrasonic surgical instrument.

The disclosed method may include the steps of sensing a temperature ofthe ultrasonic surgical instrument, determining whether the sensedtemperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, and movingthe insufflation media through the ultrasonic surgical instrument at arate in accordance with the predetermined temperature threshold. Thedisclosed method may additionally or alternative include the steps ofsensing a temperature of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, determiningwhether the sensed temperature has exceeded a temperature threshold fora predetermined period of time, and moving the insufflation mediathrough the ultrasonic surgical instrument at a rate in accordance withthe predetermined temperature threshold in response to a determinationthat the sensed temperature has exceeded a temperature threshold for apredetermined duration of time. In another aspect the disclosed methodincludes the steps of sensing a temperature of the ultrasonic surgicalinstrument, determining whether the sensed temperature has exceeded atemperature threshold for a predetermined period of time, anddeactivating delivery of ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic surgicalinstrument in response to a determination that the sensed temperaturehas exceeded a temperature threshold for a predetermined duration oftime.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the subject instrument are described herein withreference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a fluid cooled ultrasonicsurgical system in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an internal view of an embodiment of a fluid cooled ultrasonicsurgical instrument in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a detail internal view of another embodiment of a fluidcooled ultrasonic surgical instrument in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a fluid cooled ultrasonicsurgical instrument in use in an insufflated surgical field inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an internal view of another embodiment of a fluid cooledultrasonic surgical instrument in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is an internal view of yet another embodiment of a fluid cooledultrasonic surgical instrument in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is an internal view of still another embodiment of a fluid cooledultrasonic surgical instrument in accordance with the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 7 is an internal view of another embodiment of a fluid cooledultrasonic surgical instrument in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure are describedhereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it isto be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples ofthe disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms. The terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodimentsonly, and is not intended to be limiting. Well-known and/or repetitivefunctions and constructions are not described in detail to avoidobscuring the present disclosure in unnecessary or redundant detail.Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto variously employ the present disclosure in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure. In the drawings and in thedescriptions that follow, In the drawings and in the descriptions thatfollow, the term “proximal,” as is traditional, shall refer to the endof the instrument that is closer to the user, while the term “distal”shall refer to the end that is farther from the user. Terms referencingorientation, e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, andthe like, are used for illustrative purposes with reference to thefigures and features shown therein. It is to be understood thatembodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be practicedin any orientation without limitation. In this description, as well asin the drawings, like-referenced numbers represent elements which mayperform the same, similar, or equivalent functions.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of an ultrasonicsurgical system in accordance with the present disclosure. The disclosedsystem includes a fluid-cooled ultrasonic instrument 210 that isoperatively coupled to an ultrasonic generator 150 and a coolant source160. As shown, ultrasonic instrument 210 is coupled to generator 150 anda coolant source 160 by a cable assembly 205. Instrument 210 may includeone or more controls 220 configured to activate the delivery ofultrasonic energy, activate the delivery of coolant, and/or adjust anoperational parameter of the system 100. Instrument 210 includes awaveguide 230, e.g., an end effector, a blade, and the like, forperforming an ultrasonic surgical procedure, e.g., dissection,debriding, tissue removal, coagulation, and so forth. Instrument 210 mayinclude one or more indicators 221 configured to provide visual ortactile indications to a user, and may include, without limitation, alight-emitting diode (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD), and/or ashutter indicator. Cable assembly 205 may include a junction 211 thatoperatively joins a fluid conduit 212 and an electrical cable 213 tocable 214. Electrical cable 213 includes one or more conductors, e.g.,electrical conductors, fiber optic conductors, and the like, that areconfigured to convey ultrasonic energy, control signals, and sensorsignals between generator 150 and instrument 210 as described herein.Fluid conduit 212 includes one or more lumens configured to distributecoolant between coolant source 160 and instrument 210, and mayoptionally include one or more electrical conductors configured toconvey electrical signals between coolant source 160, generator 150,and/or instrument 210. Cable 214 may include electrical conductors,fiber optic conductors, and/or coolant lumens in any combination.

Generator 150 includes a user interface 151 having one or moreindicators and/or controls in any suitable combination. Coolant source160 may include a coolant pump 162 to facilitate the flow of coolantbetween coolant source 160 and instrument 210. Additionally oralternatively, coolant source 160 may include one or more sensors 164that are adapted to sense a property of coolant and/or of coolant source160, for example without limitation, coolant level, coolant pressure,coolant temperature, coolant type, and the like.

During use, waveguide 230 of instrument 210 may be brought into contactwith a patient P. Generator 150 may be activated to cause ultrasonicexcitation of wave guide 230, which, in turn, delivers energy to patienttissue to achieve a surgical objective, e.g., dissection, coagulation,vessel sealing, and the like.

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, an embodiment of an ultrasonic surgical system300 in accordance with the present disclosure includes an ultrasonicinstrument 310 configured to operatively couple with an ultrasonicgenerator 350. Instrument 310 includes a housing 308 having an elongatedshaft 309 and a handle 312 disposed at a proximal end of the shaft.Handle 312 is configured to facilitate handling and manipulation by auser, e.g., a surgeon. A control 320 is disposed on an outer surface 313of instrument 310, e.g., ergonomically disposed on handle 312. Control320 is configured to operatively couple to a generator 350 by aconductor 319. As described in detail below, control 320 may be assignedto a dedicated purpose function, e.g., to activate ultrasonic energy. Insome embodiments, control 320 may be programmable in accordance with auser's preference, e.g., to activate coolant delivery, to adjust energyintensity, to adjust a duty cycle, and so forth. Control 320 may includeone or more independent control elements (e.g., one or more pushbuttons,one or more switches, one or more continuous rotary controls, one ormore continuous linear controls, and the like).

Instrument 310 includes a waveguide 330 extending from a distal end 311of shaft 309 that is configured to contact targeted tissue T. Waveguide300 may be formed from any suitable material, including withoutlimitation, ceramic, aluminum, titanium, silica, and/or combinationsthereof. Waveguide 330 may include one or more blade edges 331 that areadapted to facilitate dissection of tissue. A transducer 332 is operablycoupled to waveguide 300 and is adapted to receive an ultrasonic signal,e.g., an alternating current electrical signal in the 20 kHz-60 kHzrange, from generator 350 and to translate the ultrasonic signal intomechanical (acoustic) vibrations, which, in turn, excite waveguide 300.Transducer 332 may include piezoelectric, voice coil, electrostatic, orany other transduction components suitable for converting the ultrasonicsignal into mechanical oscillations required to excite waveguide 300.

Waveguide 330 includes one or more sensors 340 that are configured tosense one or more operational parameters relating to waveguide 330and/or tissue T. For example, and without limitation, sensor 340 may beconfigured to sense at least one of a temperature, a frequency, animpedance, a phase, an amplitude, a rate of fluid flow, or a quantity offluid. One or more sensors 340 are operably coupled to a sensorinterface unit 354 that is included in ultrasonic generator 350, asdescribed in detail below.

Instrument 310 includes a coolant pump 362 that is configured to drawcoolant from one or more coolant inlet ports 325 that are disposed on anouter surface of instrument 310. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, coolant pump362 includes one or more coolant pump inlets 333 disposed on a generallyproximal-facing portion of coolant pump 362. Coolant inlet ports 325 arein fluid communication with one or more coolant pump inlets 333 by oneor more coolant inlet conduits 326. Additionally or alternatively, asshown in FIG. 2A, coolant pump 362′ includes one or more coolant pumpinlets 333′ arranged radially on a generally outer surface thereof. Inthe FIG. 2A embodiment, coolant inlet ports 325′ defined in an outersurface 313 of instrument 310 are substantially coincident with one ormore radial coolant pump inlets 333′.

Coolant pump 362 may employ any suitable pumping technique, includingwithout limitation, at least one of a fan, an axial or radialcentrifugal blower, a reciprocating or rotating positive displacementarrangement, or a peristaltic arrangement. Coolant pump 362 may includea motor (not explicitly shown) to provide motive force required to drivethe pump. In embodiments, coolant pump 362 may include an electricmotor.

Coolant pump 362 includes one or more coolant pump outlets 334 arrangedon a generally distal-facing surface of coolant pump 362 that areconfigured to deliver coolant to a distal end 311 of instrument 310,and, in particular, to deliver coolant to waveguide 330 and/or generallyto targeted tissue and an operative field. Instrument 310 may includeone or more coolant outlet conduits 327, wherein the one or more coolantpump outlets 334 are in fluid communication with one or more coolantoutlet conduits 327 that extend distally from coolant pump 362 to adistal end 311 of instrument 310. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, a distal end328 of coolant outlet conduit 327 extends beyond a distal end 311 ofinstrument 310 and is contoured to direct coolant from coolant outletport 329 toward waveguide 330.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to thedescribed arrangement of coolant inlet ports, coolant inlet conduits,coolant pump inlets, coolant pump outlets, coolant outlet conduits, andcoolant outlet ports, and that various alternative arrangements of theseelements are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure.For example, and without limitation, in an envisioned embodiment the oneor more coolant pump outlets 334 are in fluid communication with aninterior region 335 of instrument 310. In this embodiment, interiorregion 335 is open at a distal end thereof to allow coolant to flowaround, e.g., transducer 332, waveguide 330, and to expel coolant from adistal end 311 of instrument 310.

System 300 includes an ultrasonic generator 350 that includes, inoperable communication, a processor 352, a memory 353, an ultrasonicdriver unit 356, a sensor interface unit 354, and a coolant activationunit 358. Ultrasonic driver unit 356 is operably coupled to transducer332 by conductor 351. Coolant activation unit 358 is operably coupled tocoolant pump 362 by conductor 321. Sensor interface unit 354 is operablycoupled to one or more sensors 340 by conductor 341. Memory 353 includesa set of programmed instructions executable on processor 352 to processcontrol data received from control 320, to process a sensor signalreceived from one or more sensors 340, and/or to control the delivery ofultrasonic energy to transducer 332 and/or waveguide 330, and to controlthe operation of coolant pump 362. The programmed instructions mayinclude one or more operation profiles, or “modes”, that define therelationship between inputs received from control 320 and one or moresensors 340, and outputs transmitted to transducer 332 and/or waveguide330, and to coolant pump 362.

For example, and without limitation, an operation profile may specifythat an actuation of control 320 results in activation of ultrasonicdriver unit 356, which, in turn, causes an ultrasonic driver signal tobe output therefrom to ultrasonically excite waveguide 330. Theoperation profile may additionally specify that coolant activation unit358 be activated concurrently, which, in turn, causes coolant pump 362to be activated to deliver coolant as described herein.

In some embodiments, coolant activation unit 358 includes the capabilityto vary the rate at which coolant pump 362 pumps coolant. Additionallyor optionally, the rate at which coolant pump 362 operates may vary inaccordance with a predetermined coolant delivery profile, and mayinclude a rising portion (e.g., coolant delivery rate increasing overtime), a falling portion (e.g., coolant delivery decreasing over time),a steady-state portion, and a deactivated portion.

In other embodiments, ultrasonic driver unit 356 and/or coolantactivation unit 358 may be activated in response to an actuation stateof control 320 in combination with one or more sensor signals receivedby sensor interface unit 354 from one or more sensors 340. In thismanner, coolant pump 362 speed may be increased in accordance with achange (e.g., increase) in a temperature sensed by one or more sensors340. Advantageously, an output of ultrasonic driver unit 356 may bemodulated in accordance with a sensed temperature. In anothernon-limiting example, activation of ultrasonic driver unit 356 may beterminated when a sensed temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.Additionally or alternatively, modulation and/or termination of anultrasonic driver unit 356 activation may be performed when a sensedtemperature exceeds a predetermined threshold for a predetermined lengthof time.

In another aspect, the disclosed system 300 is adapted for use duringminimally-invasive (e.g., laparoscopic) procedures performed within aninsufflated surgical field or pneumoperitoneum. As depicted in FIG. 3,instrument 310 is introduced into the body of a patient P using standardinterventional techniques. For example, and without limitation, one ormore ports 366, which may be a cannula or single-incision laparoscopicsurgery (SILS) port, may be inserted into the body of a patient tofacilitate access to a body cavity C. A trocar 364 may additionally oralternatively be employed in accordance with surgical objectives. Theinstrument 310 is introduced into body cavity C. Insufflation gas G isintroduced into body cavity C from an insufflation gas source 360 via aconduit 361. Typically, insufflation gas G includes an inert ornon-toxic gas, such as, without limitation, carbon dioxide. As depictedin FIG. 3, insufflation gas may be introduced into body cavity Cutilizing a port 366 separate from that utilized in connection withinstrument 310. In an alternative embodiment, insufflation gas may beintroduced utilizing the same port 366 as instrument 310, such as when aSILS port is utilized that enables multiple instruments, conduits,and/or other devices to be inserted into body cavity C through a single,common port 366. In some embodiments, described below, insufflation gasG may be introduced into body cavity C via instrument 310.

Insufflation of body cavity C is typically performed to expand theoperative field and/or to mitigate obstructions. After body cavity C issufficiently insufflated, a distal end 311 of instrument 310 ispositioned at the operative site to bring waveguide 330 into surgicalengagement with targeted tissue T. A surgeon may then activate generator350 utilizing, e.g., control 320 of instrument 310, to treat tissue T.Coolant pump 362 may be activated, causing insufflation gas to be drawnin at coolant inlet port(s) 325 and expelled at a distal end 311 ofinstrument 310 (e.g., via coolant outlet port 329), thereby coolingwaveguide 330 and/or tissue at the surgical site. In this manner, aninstrument 310 in accordance with the present disclosure advantageouslyutilizes insufflation gas G available within a body cavity C to achieveimproved temperature control (cooling) of the ultrasonic surgicalapparatus, which, in turn, may lead to improved operative outcomes,reduced procedure times, and reduced recovery times.

According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an ultrasonic surgicalsystem 400 in accordance with the present disclosure includes anultrasonic surgical instrument 410 operatively associated with agenerator 450 and a coolant source 460. Instrument 410 includes atransducer 432 operatively associated with a waveguide 430, andoperatively coupled to generator 450 by conductor 431. A coolant pump462 is in fluid communication with coolant source 460 and instrument 410and is configured to pump coolant from coolant supply 460 to instrument410. Instrument 410 includes a coolant valve 420 that is configured toenable a user to selectively enable the delivery of coolant to waveguide430 and/or a distal end 411 of instrument 410. As shown, valve 420includes an inlet 421 in fluid communication with fluid source 460and/or pump 462 via a coolant supply conduit 426, and an outlet 422 influid communication with a distal end 411 of instrument 410 via a fluidoutlet conduit 427. A distal end 428 of fluid outlet conduit 428includes a coolant outlet port 429 that is configured to direct coolanttowards waveguide 430. While in the present embodiment valve 420 isillustrated as a gate valve, any suitable valve construction may beincorporated. During use, a user (e.g., surgeon) may enable the flow ofcoolant by depressing an actuator 423 operatively associated with valve420. Actuator 423 may be a pushbutton, lever, knob, or any othersuitable control for enabling and disabling coolant flow.

Turning now to FIG. 5, yet another embodiment of an ultrasonic surgicalsystem 500 in accordance with the present disclosure is presented thatincludes an ultrasonic surgical instrument 510 operatively associatedwith a generator 550 and a coolant source 560. Instrument 510 includes atransducer 532 operatively associated with a waveguide 530, andoperatively coupled to generator 550 by conductor 531. A coolant pump562 is in fluid communication with coolant source 560 and instrument 510and is configured to pump coolant from coolant supply 560 to instrument510. Instrument 510 includes a coolant pump switch 520 that isconfigured to enable a user to selectively enable the delivery ofcoolant to waveguide 530 and/or a distal end 511 of instrument 510.Coolant pump switch 520 is operably coupled to coolant pump 562 by aconductor 521. Conductor 521 may convey a control signal and/or power tocoolant pump 562 to effectuate the operation thereof. Coolant source 560and/or coolant pump 562 are in fluid communication with a fluid conduit527 that is configured to direct coolant towards waveguide 530. Duringuse, a user (e.g., surgeon) may enable the flow of coolant by depressingan actuator 523 operatively associated with coolant pump switch 520.Actuator 523 may be a pushbutton, lever, knob, or any other suitablecontrol for enabling and disabling coolant flow. In some embodiments,coolant pump switch 520 may include a continuous actuator, e.g., arotary or linear controller, to enable a user to continuously vary thespeed of fluid pump 562 and, thus, the rate of coolant flow.

In yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, an ultrasonic surgical system600 in accordance with the present disclosure includes an ultrasonicsurgical instrument 610 operatively associated with a generator 650 anda coolant source 660. Instrument 610 includes a transducer 632operatively associated with a waveguide 630, and operatively coupled togenerator 650 by conductor 631. Instrument 610 includes a coolant pump660 in fluid communication with coolant source 660 configured to pumpcoolant from coolant supply 660 to instrument 610. As shown, coolantpump 620 is a manually operated bellows pump that is configured toenable a user to selectively enable the delivery of coolant to waveguide630 and/or a distal end 611 of instrument 610. Coolant pump 620 includesan inlet 621 in fluid communication with fluid source 660 via a coolantsupply conduit 626, and an outlet 622 in fluid communication with adistal end 611 of instrument 610 via a fluid outlet conduit 627. Adistal end 628 of fluid outlet conduit 628 includes a coolant outletport 629 that is configured to direct coolant towards waveguide 630.Advantageously, coolant pump 620 may be of a self-priming design thatfacilitates the establishment and maintenance of coolant flow. Duringuse, a user (e.g., surgeon) may enable the flow of coolant by repeatedlydepressing or “pumping” an actuator 623 operatively associated withcoolant pump 620. While a bellows pump is shown in the presentembodiment, other suitable pump mechanisms are contemplated within thescope of the present disclosure, including without limitation, areciprocating pump.

According to still another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, an ultrasonicsurgical system 700 in accordance with the present disclosure includesan ultrasonic surgical instrument 710 operatively associated with agenerator 750 and a coolant source 760. Instrument 710 includes atransducer 732 operatively associated with a waveguide 730, andoperatively coupled to generator 750 by conductor 731. A sensor 740 isoperatively associated with waveguide 730 and in operative communicationwith a controller 770. Controller 770 is in operative communication witha coolant valve 720 and a coolant pump 762. Coolant pump 762 is in fluidcommunication with coolant source 760 and instrument 710 and isconfigured to pump coolant from coolant supply 760 to instrument 710. Asshown, coolant valve 720 includes an inlet 721 in fluid communicationwith fluid source 760 and/or pump 762 via a coolant supply conduit 726,and an outlet 722 in fluid communication with a distal end 711 ofinstrument 710 via a fluid outlet conduit 727. A distal end 728 of fluidoutlet conduit 728 includes a coolant outlet port 729 that is configuredto direct coolant towards waveguide 730. Coolant valve 720 is configuredto respond to a coolant valve control signal received from controller770 to selectively regulate the delivery of coolant to waveguide 730and/or a distal end 711 of instrument 710. Coolant pump 762 mayadditionally or alternatively be configured to respond to a coolant pumpcontrol signal from controller 770 to vary a pump parameter, such aspump speed, coolant pressure, and the like. In some embodiments, coolantvalve 720 includes a solenoid (not explicitly shown) that is configuredto actuate corresponding valve mechanism for regulating coolant flow. Insome embodiments, controller may vary a duty cycle of the coolant valvecontrol signal to modulate an average flow of coolant passing throughthe valve. Controller 770 may be programmed to receive a temperaturesensor signal from temperature sensor 740 indicative of a temperature ofwaveguide 730 and in response thereto, vary at least one of a coolantvalve control signal or a coolant pump control signal to achieve acoolant flow sufficient to maintain waveguide 730 within a predeterminedtemperature range.

The described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to beillustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to representevery embodiment of the present disclosure. The steps of a methoddisclosed herein may be performed in a different order than thatdescribed, and/or the operations performed within an individual step orsteps may be desirably be combined into a single step without departingfrom the scope and spirit of said method. Further variations of theabove-disclosed embodiments and other features and functions, oralternatives thereof, may be made or desirably combined into many otherdifferent systems or applications without departing from the spirit orscope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims bothliterally and in equivalents recognized in law.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method of cooling an ultrasonic surgicalinstrument, the method comprising: drawing insufflation media from abody cavity into the ultrasonic instrument; and cooling the ultrasonicsurgical instrument with the insufflation media drawn from the bodycavity.
 22. The method according to claim 21, further comprisingactivating the ultrasonic surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonicenergy to tissue.
 23. The method according to claim 22, whereinactivating the ultrasonic surgical instrument to deliver ultrasonicenergy to tissue includes delivering ultrasonic energy to tissue with awaveguide of the ultrasonic surgical instrument, the waveguide extendingdistally from a housing of the ultrasonic surgical instrument.
 24. Themethod according to claim 23, wherein cooling the ultrasonic surgicalinstrument with the insufflation media drawn from the body cavityincludes expelling the insufflation media over a portion of thewaveguide.
 25. The method according to claim 21, further comprisinginsufflating the body cavity of a patient with insufflation media. 26.The method according to claim 25, further comprising selecting theinsufflation media from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, oxygen,air, and saline.
 27. The method according to claim 21, furthercomprising introducing an ultrasonic surgical instrument into theinsufflated body cavity.
 28. The method according to claim 25, whereininsufflating the body cavity of the patient includes returning theinsufflation media drawn from the body cavity to the body cavity. 29.The method according to claim 21, further comprising varying a rate atwhich the insufflation media is drawn from the body cavity in accordancewith a temperature of the ultrasonic surgical instrument.
 30. The methodaccording to claim 21, further comprising: sensing a temperature of theultrasonic surgical instrument; determining whether the sensedtemperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold; and varying arate at which the insufflation media is drawn from the body cavity inaccordance with the sensed temperature relative to the predeterminedtemperature threshold.
 31. The method according to claim 21, furthercomprising: sensing a temperature of the ultrasonic surgical instrument;determining whether the sensed temperature has exceeded a temperaturethreshold for a predetermined period of time; and varying a rate atwhich the insufflation media is drawn from the body cavity in accordancewith the predetermined temperature threshold in response to adetermination that the sensed temperature has exceeded a temperaturethreshold for a predetermined duration of time.
 32. The method accordingto claim 21, further comprising: sensing a temperature of the ultrasonicsurgical instrument; determining whether the sensed temperature hasexceeded a temperature threshold for a predetermined period of time; anddeactivating delivery of ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic surgicalinstrument in response to a determination that the sensed temperaturehas exceeded a temperature threshold for a predetermined duration oftime.
 33. A method of cooling an ultrasonic surgical instrument, themethod comprising: drawing insufflation media from a body cavity into ahousing of an ultrasonic surgical instrument; and expelling theinsufflation media drawn from the body cavity over a waveguide of theultrasonic surgical instrument to cool the waveguide.
 34. The methodaccording to claim 33, further comprising delivering ultrasonic energyto tissue within the body cavity with the waveguide of the ultrasonicsurgical instrument.
 35. The method according to claim 33, whereindrawing the insufflation media from the body cavity into the housing ofthe ultrasonic surgical instrument includes drawing the insufflationmedia through a coolant inlet port defined in an outer surface of anelongated shaft extending from the housing of the ultrasonic surgicalinstrument.
 36. The method according to claim 33, wherein expelling theinsufflation media drawn from the body cavity includes expelling theinsufflation media over a portion of the waveguide extending from adistal end of the elongated shaft.
 37. The method according to claim 36,wherein expelling the insufflation media over the portion of thewaveguide extending from the distal end of the elongated shaft includesexpelling the insufflation media from a coolant outlet port defined inthe distal end of the elongated shaft.
 38. The method according to claim33, wherein drawing the insufflation media from the body cavity includesactivating a pump positioned in the housing of the ultrasonic surgicalinstrument to draw insufflation media through a coolant inlet portdefined in an outer surface of an elongated shaft that extends from thehousing.
 39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:sensing a property of the surgical instrument; and varying a property ofthe pump in response to the sensed property.
 40. The method according toclaim 39, wherein sensing the property of the surgical instrumentincludes sensing a temperature of the waveguide of the surgicalinstrument, and wherein varying a property of the pump in response tothe sensed property includes varying energy supplied to the pump inresponse to the sensed temperature.